Closure for paste tubes



Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE FOB PASTETUBES Clifford H. Georger, Bufl'alo, N. Y. Application October 10, 1934,Serial No. 747,750

6 Claims (Cl. 221-60) This invention relates to a closure for pastetubes and more particularly to a captive cap for use in conjunction withtooth paste, shaving cream, unguents, ointments, food stuffs, such asanchovy paste, and the like.

The invention primarily relates to a captive cap of this character whichcompletely avoids the necessity of manipulating the cap in using thecontents of the tube, the cap being opened by the simple operation ofpressing the end of the tube, this pressure forcing the cap outward- 1yto open a port through which the contents are discharged and the capbeing replaceable to protect the contents of the tube againstcontamination by the simple operation of pressing the cap into place. Bythis means the contents of the tube are instantly available; the cap isinstantly replaceable to protect the contents of the tube againstcontamination and the tube can be conveniently manipulated with onehand, this being particularly desirable, for example,

where a doctor applies ointments. Further, be-

ing a captive cap, there is no danger of losing the cap or thedisagreeable Job of retrieving the cap from a floor or a drain.

The principal object of the invention is to provide such a captive capwhich can be made and applied to a tube within the limits of costnecessarily imposed upon an article of this char 3o acter. To this endthe cap is made of extremely simple construction and is applied to thetube by the simple operation of fitting it forcibly through the neck ofthe paste tube. By this means not only is the cap itself of extremelyinexpensive 35 construction but requires no machining or specialoperations in applying it to the tube. This feature further permits thecaps to be sold either in conjunction with paste tubes or as a separatearticle to be applied to paste tubes and further permits the cap to beused with a succession of tubes, it being merely necessary to pull outthe cap and replace it in a fresh tube. Further, all operations inapplying the cap, manipulating it and removing it are performed from theoutside 5 so that at no time is it necessary to enter the tube.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a cap whichcan be applied to common form of paste tubes as now made. By this 50means it is unnecessary to modify the paste tube in any way toaccommodate the cap, thereby retaining all of the advantages in point ofcheapness of manufacture which characterizes present day paste tubes andat the same time providing 55 the additional advantages of a sanitarycap which is opened by the simple operation of pressing the tube andclosed by pushing it back in place.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a captivecap which is inserted by 5 merely pressing it into the neck of the tube,in which there is absolutely no danger of the cap being forced out ofthe tube while. in use. In spite of the fact that the cap is applied bymerely pressing it in position it has been found that 10 it isimpossible to force it out of the tube through excessive pressure on thetube even though such pressures are sufficient to burst the tube.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a cap whichcan be readily made of 15 phenol-formaldehyde condensation products aswell as metal, the former materials having increasing popularity in capswhere sanitation is a prime consideration.

Another purpose of the present invention is to 20 provide such a captivecap which can be formed todischarge the paste material in any desiredform, such as in a flat ribbon, a triangular ribbon, etc.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a cap whichcan be adapted either for discharge at the side of the neck of the tubeor can be adapted for discharge out of the end of the cap, although theform of the invention discharging from the side of the neck of the tubepresents many advantages over that discharging from the end of the cap.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide such an inexpensive andeasily manipulated captive cap which can be locked in its closedposition so that during shipment or while the user is travelling the capcan be locked closed and there is no danger of the contents of the tubebeing accidentally discharged.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a standard paste tube equipped with a capembodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal fragmentary section through the cap and tubeshown in Fi 1. 5

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the preferred form of cap shown in Figs. 1and 2, detached from the tube.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of theinvention.

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 4 and showing stillfurther modified forms of my invention.

The paste tube I0 is of common form made in the usual manner from asingle disk of tin or othersoftmetal. ThediskisformedtoprovidearoundtaperlngendheadlLthesidesofwhichareextrumdtoformathinwalledtubularbody l2 andthecenterofwhichis formedto provide I aneck l3, threads ll beingrolled on the outsideottheneckintheimialandwellknownmanner.Itwillbenotedthattheopeningthroughthe insideoftheneckllistaperedasindicatcdat II. Afterthetubesoformedisfllledfromitsrearloopaxendtheedgs Iofthetubularpart l2 of til: tube are brought together,interlocked and usmilyheldclosed by'a small clip H. The invmtimrelatestotheprovision ofacaptive valveandmpforsuchastandardtubewhichisapplied llentirelyfrumtheoutsideofthetubeandinthe preferred form showninFigs. 1-3the captive cap mines an upper cap-shaped part 23 whichcanbeofanysuitable form andhas an annular dependingrhnflwhichisinternallythreadedas U indicated at 22, so that this cap-shapedportion mnbescrewedontothethreads llofthetube.Attachedtotheinsideofthecapisacentraldepmdingstem23whichiscircularincrosssectionandisslightlytaperedsothatitslower endisfllargerthmitsupperenithisstemcoverbeing gmerallyoftheshapeofaninvertedcork. This taperingformofthestemfl is animportant feature ofmyinventionaudit is important that thelowerorlargerendofthestemfl closelyfits Itbeuppa-orcontractedendofthe taperingoutletoriflceliintheneckofthepastetube. Thisstemisdirectlyinsertedhiflieorifieeliofthetubeanditsmlargedendisofsuflicientsizesoastopro-.

videachseiitinthroughthecontractedendoftheopeningliandsothataslightpreslureistoforceitintotheneckofthepastetube. Inonesideofthestem23arelativelydeepsbtorgmovellisprovided.This llotorgmovecanbeofanyshape dependinguponfltheformofribbonorstreamofpastewhichisdedredbutispreferablyofsubstantialdepth,extmdingbeyondthecenterofthestemasshown. The taper shown in thedrawing is, of course, greatlyted. 4|Anysuitahlemeanscanbeprovidedforattachingtbestemfltothecapflandasshownthecap 23 is provided on its inside with a centralsmallboslwhichisforciblyflttedinacorrem l 1 r shaped hole provided inthe adjacent pendofthestemfl. Suchaconnectionpermits the cap to bemadeby standard dies and avoids thecomplications 11 present in moldingtbecapinone piece, although, of course,the capeanbemoldedinonepiece,asillustratedinFig.4. gInapplyingthecaptoapastetubeforshipmentthestemflofthecapisinsertedintheopmingliofthepastetubeandthecapscrewed down.Itwillbeseenthatthiscanbedoneeitherbeforeorafterthetubeisfilledanditwillbe seemtbatthisisecoomplishedentirely from outddethetubeandrequiresnospecialmachinery.Whentheuserreceivesthetubeheunscrewsthecapsoastofreethelockbetweenthecapandthetubeandthenpressesthepastetube,thepressureontbeamtmtsforcmgthestemfloutwardly until the upper end of thegroove 24 is exposed. Thecontentsofthetubearethendischarged in the formof a ribbon through the groove 24, the form of the ribbon depending uponthesbapeofthechannelfl. Inasmuchastheloweruilargedendofthestemfliscloselyfltted' hitheupperorcontractedend ofthe opening IS, the stem and cap cannot be forced outregardlesoi'howmuchpressureisappliedtothetube. nThhprmurehofcoursarelievedbytheescape provided through the groove 24 andthe friction provided by the tight fit of the lower enlarged end of thestem 23 against the upper contracted end of the orifice I5 is suflicientto prevent the captive cap from being forced out of the tube even 5though suflicient pressure is applied to burst the tube. At the sametime the insertion of the stem 23 in the neck of the tube does notrequire any great amount of force in order to secure this result. Itwill further be observed that by real son of the tapering form of theorifice through the neck l3 and the stem 23 this frictional stop doesnot come into action until the upper end of the groove 24- is completelyexposed.

To close the tube it is, of course, merely necesl sary for the user topress down the cap 20, this operation closing the port formed by thegroove 2| and protecting the contents of the tube against contamination.It is, of course, unnecessary for the user to screw the cap down innormal use, this feature being only provided for shipment of the tube orwhen the user is travelling and when there is a possibility of pressurebeing accidentally applied to the tube.

In Fig. 4 is shown a different form of the inven- 26 tion in which a capand stem are made in one piece. The tube is of standard form andtherefore the same reference numerals have been applied. The stem 23a ofthe cap 20a are shown as molded in one piece and this stem instead ofbeing 30 tapered is of cylindrical form and at its extreme end isenlarged to provide a rounding bead 25 so as to provide the necessaryenlarged diameter at the extreme end of the stem. This bead 25 isclosely fitted in the contracted part of the opening I! of the tube, asin the preferred form of the invention and it will be appreciated thatthis form of stem functions in exactly the same manner as the taperingstem shown in Figs. 1-3. Also in this form of the invention. instead ofproviding a groove in the side of the stem, a passage 2 is providedwhich extends upwardly through the center of the stem and then extendslaterally to the side of the stem. It will be seen that any shape ofribbon can be provided by shaping the 5 passage 26 to provide thisdesired shape of ribbon.

While the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4 are entirelyadequate for all shaving and tooth pastes it is possible that with heavypastes and tubes additional securement may be needed to insure theretention of the cap in the tube regardless of how much pressure isapplied to the tube. With such heavy pastes the form of the inventionshown in Fig. 5 could be used. In this form the cap 20b is made ofstandard form and the stem 23b is provided with an enlarged head 23 atits upper end, this head being externally threaded and screwed tightlyinto the cap 20b so as to securely unite the stem and cap. The lower endof the stem 23b is hollowed out, as indicated 0 at 30, and the dependingskirt so formed is slit at regular intervals, four slits beingillustrated, as indicated at 3|. The lower end of the skirt so formed isalso provided with an external bevel 32. As in the form of the inventionshown in Fig. 4, a :5 central passage 33 leads from the center of thehollowed out portion 30 to the exterior of the stem which, when exposed,provides a discharge port for the paste.

In applying the form of cap shown in Fig. 5 to a paste tube the bevel 32is engaged with the inside of the neck l3 of the tube and the cap isforced inwardly. Inasmuch as the lower end of the stem 23b is slit thestem yields or compresses inwardlysoastopermitthepassage ofthestem 76into the neck of the tube, the bevelled edges 32 forcing the sides ofthe stem inwardly. When once inserted, the lower end of the stem expandsto its normal condition and the tube is securely anchored against beingforced completely out of the tube and at the same time permits pressureto be applied to the contents of the tube to force the stem outwardlyfar enough to open the port 33.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 the cap 35 is screwed ontothe threaded neck of the paste tube and is provided with a radiallyextending tubular passage 36 in which a stem 31 is slidingly fitted.This stem is preferably formed with a head 38. The inner end of thepassage 38 is connected by a port 39 with the inside of the paste tubeand the cap is also provided with a central port 40 which extends fromthe outside of the cap to the passage 36. The port 39 preferablyconnects with the passage 36 at a point beyond the end of the stem 31 sothat upon applying pressure to the tube the contents press againsttheend of the stem 31 and force it outwardly until it uncovers the port 40whereupon the contents of the tube are discharged through this port. Itwill be understood that the opening 40 can be in the form of a slot soas to facilitate the application of the paste to a tooth brush or thelike.

From the foregoing it is apparent that all of the forms of my inventionshow a very simple captive cap which can be produced at a very low cost,the more particularly in that it contains no moving parts and is appliedto a paste tube entirely from the outside and as easily as a screw cap.At the same time the cap is reliably held in place and requires the userto merely press upon the tube to obtain a discharge of the contents andto merely press the cap back in position to seal the tube and guardagainst contamination of the contents. Further, the invention can beapplied either as a part of the original tube or can be sold as anaccessory which the user can apply to standard paste tubes.

I claim as my invention:

1. A paste tube having a collapsible body and an outlet orifice in itsneck and a captive closure therefor, said closure comprising a stemdirectly removable and insertable in said orifice and slidable therein,said stem having a closed outer end, a contracted portion and anenlarged portion at its inner end which enlarged portion is closelyfitted to said orifice, said stem being slidable outwardly by pressureapplied to the paste within said tube and being provided with a passageopen to the interior of the tube and terminating at its opposite end ina port provided in the side wall of said contracted portion at adistance from its inner end to permit the escape of paste upon theengagement of the enlarged portion of said stem with the wall. formingsaid orifice.

2. A paste tube having a collapsible body and an outlet orifice in itsneck, said outlet orifice tapering to an outer contracted portion and acaptive closure therefor, said closure comprising a stem directlyremovable and insertable through said orifice and slidable therein, saidstem having a closed outer end, a contracted portion and an enlargedportion at its inner end closely fitted to the contracted portion ofsaid orifice and disposed between said contracted portion of saidorifice and said collapsible body, said stem being 7 slidable outwardlyby pressure applied to the paste within said tube and said stem beingprovided with a passage opening at one end into the interior of the tubeand terminating at its opposite end in a port provided in the side wallof said stem at a distance from said enlarged portion and which isnormally closed by said neck and uncovered by the outward movement ofsaid stem upon the engagement of the contracted portion of said orificeand the enlarged portion of said stem so as to permit the discharge ofpaste through said passage upon continued application of pressure tosaid tube following the engagement of said enlarged portion of said stemwith the contracted portion of said orifice.

3. A paste tube having a collapsible body and an outlet orifice in itsneck, said outlet orifice tapering to an outer contracted portion and acaptive closure therefor, said closure comprising a stem directlyremovable and insertable through said orifice and slidable therein, saidstem having a closed outer end, a contracted portion and an enlargedtapered portion at its inner end closely fitted to the contractedportion of said orifice and disposed between said contracted portion ofsaid orifice and said collapsible body, said stem being slidableoutwardly by pressure applied to the paste within said tube and saidstem being provided with a passage opening at one end into the interiorof the tube and terminating at its opposite end in a port provided inthe side wall of said stem at a distance from said enlarged portion andwhich is normally closed by said neck and uncovered by the outwardmovement of said stem upon the engagement of the contracted portion ofsaid orifice and the enlarged portion of said stem so as to permit thedischarge of paste through said passage upon continued application ofpressure to said tube following the engagement of said enlarged portionof said stem with the contracted portion of said orifice.

4. A paste tube having a collapsible body and an outlet orifice in itsneck and a captive closure therefor, said closure comprising a stemdirectly removable and insertable in said orifice and slidable therein,said stem having a closed outer end, a. contracted portion and anenlarged portion at its inner end which enlarged portion is closelyfitted to said orifice, said stem being slidable outwardly by pressureapplied to the paste within said tube and being provided with a passageopen to the interior of the tube and terminating at its opposite end ina port provided in the side wall of said contracted portion at adistance from its inner end to permit the escape of paste upon theengagement of the enlarged portion of said stem with the wall formingsaid orifice and means for latching said stem in its closed position.

5. A paste tube having a collapsible body and an outlet orifice in itsneck and a captive closure therefor, said closure comprising a stemdirectly removable and insertable in said orifice and slidable therein,said stem having a closed outer end, a contracted portion and anenlarged portion at its inner end which enlarged portion is closelyfitted to said orifice, said stem being slidable outwardly by pressureapplied to the paste within said tube and being provided with a passageopen to the interior of the tube and terminating at its opposite end ina port provided in the side wall of said contracted portion at adistance from its inner end to permit the escape of paste upon theengagement of the enlarged portion of said stem with the wall formingsaid orifice, and means for securing said stem in its closed positioncomprising screw threads provided on said stem and engageable withthreads provided on said neck when said stem is completely inserted.

6. A paste tube having a, collapsible body and an outlet orifice in itsneck and a captive closure therefor, said closure comprising a stemdirectly wardly by pressure applied to the paste within said tube andbeing provided with a passage open to the interior of the tube andterminating at its opposite end in a port provided in the side wall ofsaid contracted portion at a distance from its inner end to permit theescape of paste upon the engagement of the enlarged portion of said stemwith the wall forming said orifice and a cap threaded on the outerclosed end of said stem and having additional internal threads engagingexternal threads provided on the neck of said tube.

CLIFFORD H. GEORGER.

